review of 2018 mac mini for video editing

Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing update#
Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing driver#
Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing upgrade#
Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing Pc#

Our review unit is the base model, which comes with an Intel Core i3-8100B processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage.

Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing update#

Apple has been promoting the dramatic improvements in performance from the previous Mac mini, but those claims ring a little hollow when you consider that the last Mac mini update was in 2014, and that the previous system was still rocking fourth-generation dual-core processors. Apple Mac mini review: PerformanceĮvery configuration of the Mac mini is outfitted with quad-core Intel 8th-generation processors and all flash storage. To use an SD card on the new model, you'll need to connect an adapter via USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt 3 port. While you get more connectivity overall with the new Mac mini, you do lose the SDXC card slot from the 2014 model. It's a very cool business-friendly feature that media pros will appreciate, but won't be much use to the average user.Īnd, it wouldn't be Apple without dropping a connection or two. If you need even more speed for connecting a local network or network-attached storage, the Ethernet port can actually be configured as a 10 Gigabit connection, instead. It's enough to connect two 4K displays, and you can also use an external GPU, not to mention all manner of storage and peripherals. Those Thunderbolt 3 ports offer a huge amount of connectivity, thanks to speeds of up to 40Gbps. On the back of the mini, you'll find four Thunderbolt 3 ports (using USB Type-C connections), two USB 3.0 ports, a single HDMI 2.0 port, a headphone jack for audio and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Similarly, while there's no configuration for the Mac mini that offers a discrete graphics card, you can also bump up the horsepower for gaming and other graphics-intensive uses by adding an external graphics card enclosure, also connected via Thunderbolt 3. The good news is that, thanks to the bandwidth offered by the Thunderbolt 3 ports found on the rear panel of the system, you can connect external storage – even at jaw-dropping capacities – and use it without taking a hit on performance. The PCIe-connected SSD is soldered to the logic board, making the flash storage modules all but impossible to remove and replace.Īpple has a well-deserved reputation for making its products hard to upgrade, and the Mac mini is no exception. In the 2014 model, you could remove the included Fusion drive (Apple's hybrid SSD and hard-disk storage solution) and replace it with an aftermarket SSD, boosting the performance of the machine and extending the life of the Mac mini – which many people found necessary in the long wait for this year's update.

Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing driver#

Specifically, you'll need a driver for a TR6 Torx security screw.Īdditionally, while Apple has returned the upgradable RAM found on the 20 Mac mini, the upgradable storage is gone. So, even if you have a set of tiny Torx drivers, you'll probably need to get a different screwdriver, one with a hole in the center to accommodate that pin. It also means you'll be better able to keep the Mac mini up to date if Apple takes another four-year break before introducing the next model.

Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing upgrade#

The 2018 model offers more traditional SO-DIMM slots, so you can swap out RAM, allowing you to upgrade the unit after purchase.

The Mac mini is being touted as more upgrade-friendly than the previous model, which had its RAM soldered directly to the motherboard. Unfortunately, the 2018 model still uses the less convenient design that requires a special tool. This access panel has taken different forms over the last few iterations of the mini, with the 2010 model offering a simple twist-to-open design and the 2014 model requiring a special prying tool (literally, a modified putty knife) to open. Around the edges of the panel are cleverly concealed vents for air flow, and the simple black surface has 'Mac mini' imprinted on it.

Review of 2018 mac mini for video editing Pc#

On the bottom of the Mac mini's aluminum chassis is a black plastic disk, which does double duty as both the foot for the compact PC as well as a cover that opens to provide internal access. The power supply has been enlarged to provide the necessary power to the new components. The design has larger vents and a bigger fan, doubling the airflow to better cool the processor. To accommodate the updated hardware inside, Apple had to change some of the internal design, as well. The littlest Mac has gotten a pretty stunning makeover, starting with the space-gray anodized finish.